In May 2018, all multinational marketers will have to comply with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs consumer data collection, storage and usage practices. Many are still unsure what they need to do to get ready.

As marketers use more digital technology and big data to execute their campaigns, they open up their organizations to increased cybersecurity risk. While some incidents may be unavoidable, they must still take proactive steps to protect against hacks, data leaks and other risky situations.

Facebook Dating launched in the US last week, giving users aged 18 and older access to typical dating app features like specialized profiles and matchmaking algorithms. Though the dating app space is crowded, Facebook has an opportunity in the future to make the barrier of entry into the online dating world lower, according to experts.

In the first of two special episodes of “Behind the Numbers,” we look back at three key digital trends from earlier this year: Facebook ad revenues, digital disruption in retail and the surge of voice assistants.

It’s official: WhatsApp Status ads are coming, likely sometime in 2020. And though paid advertising is just one piece of the puzzle for companies looking to connect with customers on WhatsApp, it’s a major change for the chat app, which has so far remained ad-free.

As we’ve covered, ad blocking in the US and many parts of western Europe are here to stay. Whether it’s over privacy concerns or the general annoyance over ads ruining user experience, many internet users are not happy with ad loads when they browse the web.

People routinely refer to the digital era as one of rapid change. But it’s more accurate to say the pace is
uneven. This Roundup includes data, insights and interviews on the latest trends impacting digital ad
spending and key happenings across marketing channels.

Stacey Grier, who became Clorox's CMO in December 2018, shares similar attitudes to her predecessor. For our report on the future of Facebook advertising, eMarketer principal analyst Debra Aho Williamson spoke with Grier to find out why marketers still rely on Facebook for effective targeting and how Clorox is working alongside the social giant to make the platform a positive place for advertisers—and consumers—in the future.

Programmatic ad spending will reach $59.45 billion in 2019, accounting for 84.9% of the US digital display ad market. This report looks at the trends driving investment to $81.00 billion by 2021, breaking it down by transaction type, format and device.

Despite a faltering economy and subdued growth across traditional media, total media ad spend in China will maintain strong growth on the back of increases in digital and mobile, where the top digital publishers will maintain their dominance.